Houston Post
Encyclopedia
The Houston Post was a newspaper
that had its headquarters in Houston, Texas
, United States
. In 1995, the newspaper was absorbed into the Houston Chronicle
.
Short story writer O. Henry
worked briefly for the Post in 1895 and 1896. He had to leave his position at the Post when he was indicted for embezzlement
from previous employment at a bank in Austin
.
For many years, the Post was owned by the Hobby family, who also began Houston's first radio station, KPRC (AM)
in 1925. Amid declining sales, the Post was sold in 1983 to the Toronto Sun
. Four years later, MediaNews Group
, led by William Dean Singleton
, bought the paper.
The Houston Post later closed down permanently, with the final edition printed on April 18, 1995. Its assets and liabilities were acquired by Hearst Corporation
, the publisher of the Post's rival daily Houston Chronicle
. The Hearst Corporation acquired the Houston Post headquarters, which included the newspaper's printing facilities and five offset press lines. Hearst began to use the facilities as part of the production of the Houston Chronicle. Houston Chronicle newspapers were distributed to former Houston Post subscribers.
website, but by 2005 they were removed. The Houston Chronicle online editor Mike Read said that the Houston Chronicle decided to remove Houston Post articles from the website after the 2001 United States Supreme Court New York Times Co. v. Tasini
decision; the newspaper originally planned to filter articles not allowed by the decision and to post articles that were not prohibited by the decision. The Houston Chronicle decided not to post or re-post any more Houston Post articles because of difficulties in complying with the New York Times Co. v. Tasini decision with the resources that were available to the newspaper. People interested in reading Houston Post articles may view them on microfilm. The Houston Public Library
has the newspaper on microfilm from 1880–1995 and the Houston Post Index from 1976 to 1994. The microfilm of 1880-1900 is in the Texas and Local History Department of the Julia Ideson Building
, while 1900-1995 is in the Jesse H. Jones Building, the main building of the Central Library. In addition the University of Houston
's main library has the Houston Post available on microfilm from 1880–1995 and the Houston Post Index from 1976 to 1979 and from 1987 to 1994. The National Endowment for the Humanities
has online searchable past issues of the Houston Post from 1893 to 1903 in the newspaper section.
http://www.houstonpress.com/1995-06-01/news/deano-s-disclosure/
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
that had its headquarters in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1995, the newspaper was absorbed into the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
.
History
The newspaper was established on February 19, 1880, by Gail Borden Johnson. Though that original publication ceased in October 1884, the Houston Post was re-established with the merger of the Houston Morning Chronicle and the Houston Evening Journal on April 5, 1885. J. L. Watson was the business manager and Rienzi M. Johnston was the editor.Short story writer O. Henry
O. Henry
O. Henry was the pen name of the American writer William Sydney Porter . O. Henry's short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings.-Early life:...
worked briefly for the Post in 1895 and 1896. He had to leave his position at the Post when he was indicted for embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
from previous employment at a bank in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
For many years, the Post was owned by the Hobby family, who also began Houston's first radio station, KPRC (AM)
KPRC (AM)
KPRC is a talk radio station in Houston, Texas, branded as "The 950 - Radio MOJO". Started in 1925, it is the oldest station in the market...
in 1925. Amid declining sales, the Post was sold in 1983 to the Toronto Sun
Toronto Sun
The Toronto Sun is an English-language daily tabloid newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is known for its daily Sunshine Girl feature and for what it sees as a populist conservative editorial stance.-History:...
. Four years later, MediaNews Group
MediaNews Group
MediaNews Group, based in Denver, Colorado, is one of the largest newspaper companies in the United States. It is privately owned and operates 56 daily newspapers in 12 states, with combined daily and Sunday circulation of approximately 2.4 million and 2.7 million, respectively...
, led by William Dean Singleton
William Dean Singleton
William Dean Singleton is an American newspaper executive. He is the chairman of the board of directors of the Associated Press, on which he has sat since 1999...
, bought the paper.
The Houston Post later closed down permanently, with the final edition printed on April 18, 1995. Its assets and liabilities were acquired by Hearst Corporation
Hearst Corporation
The Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
, the publisher of the Post's rival daily Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
. The Hearst Corporation acquired the Houston Post headquarters, which included the newspaper's printing facilities and five offset press lines. Hearst began to use the facilities as part of the production of the Houston Chronicle. Houston Chronicle newspapers were distributed to former Houston Post subscribers.
Availability of Houston Post articles
Some Houston Post articles had been made available in the archives of the Houston ChronicleHouston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
website, but by 2005 they were removed. The Houston Chronicle online editor Mike Read said that the Houston Chronicle decided to remove Houston Post articles from the website after the 2001 United States Supreme Court New York Times Co. v. Tasini
New York Times Co. v. Tasini
New York Times Co. v. Tasini, 533 U.S. 483 , is a leading decision by the United States Supreme Court on the issue of copyright in the contents of a newspaper database...
decision; the newspaper originally planned to filter articles not allowed by the decision and to post articles that were not prohibited by the decision. The Houston Chronicle decided not to post or re-post any more Houston Post articles because of difficulties in complying with the New York Times Co. v. Tasini decision with the resources that were available to the newspaper. People interested in reading Houston Post articles may view them on microfilm. The Houston Public Library
Houston Public Library
Houston Public Library is the public library system serving Houston, Texas, United States. The library system has its headquarters in the Marston Building in Neartown Houston.-History:It can trace its founding to the Houston Lyceum in 1854...
has the newspaper on microfilm from 1880–1995 and the Houston Post Index from 1976 to 1994. The microfilm of 1880-1900 is in the Texas and Local History Department of the Julia Ideson Building
Julia Ideson Building
The Julia Ideson Building is a Houston Public Library facility in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States.The building, with Spanish Renaissance architecture, is part of the Central Library; it houses the archives, manuscripts, and the Texas and Local History Department...
, while 1900-1995 is in the Jesse H. Jones Building, the main building of the Central Library. In addition the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
's main library has the Houston Post available on microfilm from 1880–1995 and the Houston Post Index from 1976 to 1979 and from 1987 to 1994. The National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
has online searchable past issues of the Houston Post from 1893 to 1903 in the newspaper section.
External links
- Rancor and Romance... - Marty Graham
- U.S DOJ approves Hearst purchase of Post - April 18, 1995
- Guide to the Rienzi Melville Johnston papers, 1899-1926
- Guide to the Marguerite Johnston Barnes Personal Papers, 1926-1998
- High-resolution scans of several Houston Post issues from 1890 - 1925 at the University of Houston Libraries
- Post Mortem: Though not unexpected, the death of the Houston Post was still a surprise. http://www.houstonpress.com/1995-04-27/news/post-mortem/
- Deano's Disclosure: Singleton signed the Post's death warrant long before it expired
http://www.houstonpress.com/1995-06-01/news/deano-s-disclosure/